Epic Universe’s Most Controversial Ride Just Got Closed Again—And No One Is Saying Why

Universal’s Stardust Racers has been shut down for weeks now, and the silence from the company is making a lot of guests very nervous.

According to Inside Universal, the dual-track launch coaster at Epic Universe has had its refurbishment extended through March 14, 2026—the second time Universal has pushed back the reopening date in a matter of weeks. The ride originally closed February 19 with a scheduled return of February 22. That slipped to February 28. Now it’s March 14 at the earliest, and Universal has offered no explanation for why.

For guests planning spring break trips to Epic Universe, that is a problem worth knowing about before you go.

What Is Stardust Racers?

Stardust Racers is one of the marquee attractions at Celestial Park, the central hub of Epic Universe. It’s a racing coaster with two competing tracks that launch simultaneously, giving riders the sensation of racing side by side at high speed. On paper, it’s exactly the kind of headline ride that makes a new theme park worth visiting.

In practice, it has had a rough first year.

A Ride That Has Struggled Since Day One

This closure marks the third significant shutdown of Stardust Racers since Epic Universe opened less than a year ago. The most serious incident came in January 2026, when both coaster trains simultaneously “valleyed”—a term for when a train loses momentum and gets stuck partway through the track—during a stretch of high winds and cold temperatures. Getting the trains unstuck required a crane and resulted in a multi-day closure.

That alone would be enough to raise eyebrows. But the ride’s troubles go back even further, to September 2025, when 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala rode Stardust Racers and later died. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office ruled the death accidental, and Universal reached a confidential settlement with the family.

Then in December 2025, five separate lawsuits were filed in Orange County Court against Universal and Mack Rides, the German manufacturer of the coaster. The plaintiffs—from Virginia, Miami, Ohio, Brevard County, and North Carolina—alleged severe and permanent injuries including paralysis, spinal cord damage, brain bleeding, and injuries requiring surgery. Multiple plaintiffs described their heads being violently thrown forward and struck during the ride. Their attorney argued that Stardust Racers is “inherently dangerous” and pointed to the absence of head restraints as a key design flaw.

Universal has not publicly addressed those claims.

What This Means for Your Trip

If Stardust Racers is on your must-do list for an upcoming Epic Universe visit, the current closure is expected to last through March 14—though Universal has changed that date twice already, so there is no guarantee it holds. Guests visiting during this window should plan accordingly and not build their itinerary around this attraction.

More broadly, the pattern of closures and the lack of communication from Universal raises a fair question about where this ride goes from here. Universal has invested enormously in Epic Universe, and Stardust Racers is one of its signature draws. Whether the ongoing refurbishments are routine maintenance, a response to the lawsuits, or something more significant, the company has chosen not to say.

That silence is, in itself, worth noting.

Should You Still Visit Epic Universe?

A single ride’s troubles should not define an entire park, and Epic Universe is still one of the most impressive theme park openings in recent memory. The other lands and attractions remain open and operational.

But if Stardust Racers was a primary reason you were booking a trip, it is worth keeping a close eye on updates before finalizing your plans. We will continue to track this story as more information becomes available.

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Source: Inside Universal — Stardust Racers at Epic Universe closure extended until March 14, 2026